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These Gingerbread Waffles take everything cozy about gingerbread cookies and turn it into a warm, crisp breakfast waffle spiced with cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg, and sweetened with real molasses. They have become the most requested *holiday morning* breakfast in our house, ready in about 25 minutes from start to finish. If you love gingerbread flavor, our gingerbread bars with cream cheese frosting are a fun dessert version worth trying too.
A warmly spiced waffle batter made with molasses, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg, cooked until crisp and golden.
Gingerbread Waffles Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: 15 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 25 minutes
- 🍽️ Serving: 12 servings
- ⚡ Calories: 246kcal
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Warm, spiced, and lightly sweet with molasses
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, just as simple as our red velvet pancakes
Quick Answer
Preheat the waffle iron over medium heat. Combine flour, baking powder, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, then whisk in the milk, vegetable oil, molasses, and vanilla extract. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry mixture and stir until just combined, then let the batter rest for 5 minutes. Grease the waffle iron with cooking spray, add about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of batter, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until both sides are lightly browned. Serve warm with maple syrup, butter, or whipped cream.
Jump to:
Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- Molasses brings real gingerbread flavor. Using real molasses instead of just brown sugar gives these waffles that deep, warm gingerbread taste you cannot fake with spice alone.
- Three warm spices build layered flavor. Cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg together create a fuller, more complex spice profile than ginger alone.
- Resting the batter for 5 minutes hydrates the flour. Letting the batter rest briefly allows the flour to fully absorb the liquid, giving the waffles a better texture as they cook.
- Mixing just until combined keeps them tender. Overmixing waffle batter develops gluten and makes the waffles tough, so stirring just until no dry streaks remain keeps them light.
- A hot waffle iron gives a crisp exterior. Preheating the iron fully before adding batter helps the outside crisp up while the inside stays fluffy.
- Both eggs and oil keep the crumb tender. The combination of eggs and vegetable oil keeps these waffles moist and tender instead of dry, even with the added molasses.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- They taste just like a gingerbread cookie in warm, crisp waffle form.
- The whole recipe comes together in about 25 minutes, start to finish.
- They pair perfectly with our easy homemade maple whipped cream for an extra festive topping.
Key Ingredients
A handful of warm spices and pantry staples give these waffles their signature gingerbread flavor.
- All-purpose flour and baking powder: The base of a light, fluffy waffle batter.
- Cinnamon, ground ginger, and nutmeg: Build the warm, layered spice flavor of gingerbread.
- Molasses: Brings deep, classic gingerbread flavor and color to the batter.
- Brown sugar and granulated sugar: Sweeten the batter and help the waffles turn golden as they cook.
- Eggs, milk, and vegetable oil: Whisked together for a smooth, pourable waffle batter.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
These Gingerbread Waffles are easy to adjust depending on your taste and what you have on hand.
- Add a handful of mini chocolate chips to the batter for a fun twist.
- Top with our maple whipped cream instead of plain whipped cream for extra flavor.
- Use a Belgian waffle iron for extra deep pockets that hold more syrup.
- Serve alongside our breakfast bagel sandwich for a bigger holiday breakfast spread.
How to Make Gingerbread Waffles
- Preheat the waffle iron over medium heat. Add the flour, baking powder, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt to a large mixing bowl and combine.
- In a separate mixing bowl, whisk the eggs together.
- Add the milk, vegetable oil, molasses, and vanilla extract to the eggs and whisk to combine.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry flour mixture, then stir until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
- Allow the batter to rest for 5 minutes before cooking.
- Grease the waffle iron with cooking spray, then add about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of batter, spreading it to the edges. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes until both sides are lightly browned. Serve with maple syrup, butter, or whipped cream.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Preheat the waffle iron fully before adding batter so the outside crisps up properly.
- Do not overmix the batter since a few lumps are fine and overmixing makes the waffles dense.
- Let the batter rest for 5 minutes to give the flour time to hydrate for the best texture.
- Use a light hand with cooking spray between batches so the waffles do not turn greasy.
- Keep cooked waffles warm in a 200 degree oven on a wire rack while you finish the rest of the batch.
- Freeze leftovers in a single layer, then transfer to a bag and reheat straight in the toaster.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
These Gingerbread Waffles are delicious topped with warm maple syrup, a pat of butter, or a big dollop of whipped cream.
Add a dusting of powdered sugar and a sprinkle of cinnamon for a festive presentation, or pair with our red velvet pancakes for a colorful holiday breakfast spread.
Serve alongside crispy bacon or sausage for a full holiday breakfast.
Make mini waffles for kids and let them add their own toppings for a fun breakfast bar.
Pack cooled waffles in a container for an easy make-ahead breakfast during the busy holiday season.
Gingerbread Waffles FAQs
Yes, cook the waffles, let them cool completely, then store in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 months.
Reheat frozen waffles directly in the toaster or in a 350 degree oven for a few minutes until warmed through and crisp again.
Yes, a small pinch of ground cloves added along with the other spices will deepen the classic gingerbread flavor even more.
Make sure the waffle iron is fully preheated before adding batter, and avoid opening the iron too early while cooking.
Yes, this same batter works well as gingerbread pancakes cooked on a hot griddle instead of a waffle iron.
Molasses gives the best classic gingerbread flavor, but dark corn syrup or maple syrup can be used in a pinch, though the flavor will be milder.
Tried these Gingerbread Waffles? I would love to hear how they turned out, leave a comment and a star rating below!
Keep the holiday breakfast theme going with my custardy eggnog french toast.
Easy Gingerbread Waffles
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- 4 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar packed
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 & 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoons ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the waffle iron over medium heat.
- Add the all-purpose flour, baking powder, granulated sugar, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground nutmeg, and salt to a large mixing bowl and combine.2 cups all-purpose flour, 4 teaspoons baking powder, 4 tablespoons granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 & 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger, 1/4 teaspoons ground nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoons salt
- In a separate mixing bowl, whisk the eggs together. Then add the milk, vegetable oil, molasses, and vanilla extract. Whisk to combine.2 large eggs, 1 cup milk, 1/2 cup vegetable oil, 1/2 cup molasses, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry flour mixture, then stir until just combined (don’t overmix!). Allow to rest for 5 minutes.
- Grease the waffle iron with cooking spray, then add about 1⁄4 – 1/2 cup batter to the waffle iron and spread it out to the edge. Cook until slightly browned on both sides of the waffle, 3-4 minutes.
- Serve the waffles with maple syrup, butter, or whipped cream. Enjoy!
Notes
- Preheat Your Waffle Iron: Ensure it’s hot before adding the batter for perfect crispiness.
- Don’t Overmix: Mix until just combined to keep the waffles light and fluffy.
- Use Fresh Ingredients: Fresh spices make a huge difference in flavor.
- Rest the Batter: Let the batter sit for a few minutes before cooking for better texture.
- Use Cooking Spray: Prevent sticking and achieve a golden-brown finish.
- Serve Immediately: For the best texture and warmth, serve waffles right after cooking.
Nutrition
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